party, party, party!!!

so, it was like the FUNNEST weekend ever!

after getting the older kids out of school early on friday (joshua is the ONLY kid in the world that was kind of upset about that... :-)) and welcoming hannah HOME, i dropped the kids (all 6!) off at pat's parents on my way home. they were going to take them out to dinner and to a light show nearby.

WE were hosting our small group at our house for a christmas party. i got home and pat was already home! what a fun surprise!!!

we had just enough time to get everything set up for the party...it was kind of weird to be setting up without kids to undo what we were doing :-)

it was a great evening...great food, played a fun game, did a white elephant exchange (that is SO super fun!)

pat's parents came in at some point, put the little boys to bed, and watched a movie in the basement with the older 3 kids. then they put them to bed! we are so blessed to have such great parents to love on our kids!

the girls...

the boys...

then saturday night, i dropped bailey off at a birthday party in the neighborhood on my way to my running group Christmas party! we did just the ladies this year (no husbands). which, for me, made it more relaxing since i knew pat was at home and i wasn't "on the clock" with anyone!

we met at paige's and had yummy drinks and snacks and did a gift exchange (again...SO fun!) and then went to a restaurant down the road.

{mini whoppie pie's for dessert! YUM!!}

i can not tell you how much these ladies mean to me. they have always been such a source of fun and encouragement and friendship. but, this past year?? they literally dragged me through it. from the depression of last winter...to getting ready to go to africa...to coming home and being so overwhelmed...they have been there through it all. every morning. some days i just loved knowing i could go out and run and listen to people talk about things that had NOTHING to do with all that was going on in my house! and other days they listened and helped. they brought meals. they watched some kids so i could have one on one time with another. they called from the grocery store to see if i needed any groceries. they stopped by and asked how i was. and i knew i could call anyone of them at any time if i needed something. priceless. they are priceless and i'm so thankful!!! we are not all the same. our age span is a good 15 years. but there ARE a couple similarities that i think make our group as great as it is - we all love our husbands. like, truly love our husbands. and we love being moms.

it sure was fun seeing everyone all dressed up and no ponytails :-)

then...today {whew! are you tired yet?!?} we went to my parents house. it was my niece, Andrea and my nephew, Ayden's birthday celebration!

{sawyer, ayden and lincoln}

the birthday kiddo's!

hannah brought back a gift {or 2!} for each kids. my kids are TREASURING those gifts so much already. precious. she is such a thoughtful aunt!

a fun, FUN weekend! but, we all hit a pretty ugly wall this evening. wow. we said "no" to about 3 other things this weekend. it was just one of those weekends.

so very thankful for all the special people in our lives we got to be with!